Thursday 30 August 2012

Behind the Scenes in the Museum....

Last night I went to a poetry reading in the Brighton Museum. There is something very exciting about being there when everyone has gone home. The objects in the glass cases look as if they might get up and walk around..   The poems were good too, and I think I might do the course which is called Museum Tales when it starts again in January.  Daughter J and I sat talking at the end and I had a secret wish that we might get locked in for the night, but we were ushered out into the rainy night.
The Brighton family have all been at a sort of alternative pop festival called Shambala, whioch was miles away in Northampton. I thought they were mad to go all that way but it sounded good. Son in law D was the organiser for children`s activities in a field, Tiger did gymnastics, J and M learned to sing sea shanties, they did Tai Chi and yoga, and great grand baby loved it too. Apparently there was one big tent called Baby Bath Time with buckets of soapy water, so it was not like dirty muddy Glastonbury or suchlike at all. I find it all very interesting but I would not like it myself. 
Everyone has moaned about the long wet windy summer but I have enjoyed it (apart from poor sister J`s terrible flood)   I have not got all hot and bothered, I have not had to toil over watering the plant pots in my back yard and have played lots of good games of Scrabble indoors with my friends and relations when we were all over in the Isle of Wight.

Saturday 18 August 2012

Boys love babies!

I have been over in the isle of Wight with my tribe. The household (small rented house in Yarmouth) consisted of:: daughter, son in law,grand daughter Tiger, plus two camping in the garden, three grandchildren with a friend to stay, one grand daughter with an eleven month old baby boy, another grand daughter (and husband, all camping nearby) with a two month old baby and a toddler, one son who was staying round the corner who came in and cooked huge lasagnes and curries for supper,his son also there for odd days, plus lots of Brighton friends coming for the day, also Jumble the dog, and another dog being looked after by ex husband while owner on holiday. Add all that lot up. Happy chaos. I have now come home to the quiet orderliness of Ditchling but I miss them all.
I noticed that teenage boys and young men really love babies, which was a great help.
I had a delayed train journey back from Bristol two weeks ago and filled in all the forms. They have compensated me three times! Three identical letters of abject apology. Moral dilemma: Do I return the two extra cheques?